Airbrush Recommendation Please

[Anthony Micallef]

I have a Harder & Steenback Evolution 2 in 1 airbrush which I've had for about 10 years. Its never worked properly for me and I've spent most of my time taking it apart cleaning it than using it.

I'm looking to get a new one and wondered what you'd recommend. It will mainly be used for scale models and want to spend about £80-£100.

[dr_gn]

I’ve got the same airbrush. If you’re using acrylics, they dry rapidly and constant cleaning is a fact of life. I strain the paint, but still occasionally get blockages. If you just blow thinner or airbrush cleaner through it after a session, it won’t really clean it, and you’ll get an accretion of paint in the nozzle and needle, which will cause issues sooner rather than later. They do need cleaning a lot.

At the end of the day, if you’re spraying fast drying paint through an aperture that’s often only microns wide. I’d expect you’ll have the same issues with a new airbrush if you expect it to perform well without fairly regular cleaning of the nozzle and needle.

[Super Sonic]

Try cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner. Also check all the o rings, especially the one sealing the paint nozzle.

[dr_gn]

I find an ultrasonic cleaner to be pretty ineffective on dried paint. Aerosol airbrush cleaner, tiny pipe cleaning brushes and kitchen roll usually does a better job in the same time.

When I’ve totally dismantled the brush and have used the aerosol, the ultrasonic cleaner might get rid of some tiny particles from various books and crannies, but the nozzle and needle are the key parts to keep spotless in my experience.

[tangerine_sedge]

dr_gn said:

I find an ultrasonic cleaner to be pretty ineffective on dried paint. Aerosol airbrush cleaner, tiny pipe cleaning brushes and kitchen roll usually does a better job in the same time.

When I’ve totally dismantled the brush and have used the aerosol, the ultrasonic cleaner might get rid of some tiny particles from various books and crannies, but the nozzle and needle are the key parts to keep spotless in my experience.

@op - I have an Iawata Neo, which is at the right price point for you and seems very well made (so far).

@dr_gn - I'm relatively new to airbrushing and have been cleaning by using airbrush cleaner/paintbrush and blowing cleaner through the airbrush. This seems to have been OK so far... What's your airbrush cleaning regime? i.e. between changing paints and at the end of the session?

[Anthony Micallef]

Thank you for your replies. I clean the airbrush after each time I have tried to use it but it still doesnt perform that well at all. I've used an ultrasonic cleaner in the past and like you've said that doesnt work either.

I'm either not cleaning it properly or theres something wrong with it. Whenever I clean it I dismantle it and get to all the parts where the paint is.

Ill give it another go and make sure I do a thorough job. Failing that I'm not sure what to do other than trying a different brand.

[Eric Mc]

I had an H&B brush for around 10 years and I loved it - until eventually it broke. At the moment, I'm using a cheapo Chinese brush (through the UK Expo importer) and it is working fine - for the moment.

[dr_gn]

Anthony Micallef said:

Thank you for your replies. I clean the airbrush after each time I have tried to use it but it still doesnt perform that well at all. I've used an ultrasonic cleaner in the past and like you've said that doesnt work either.

I'm either not cleaning it properly or there's something wrong with it. Whenever I clean it I dismantle it and get to all the parts where the paint is.

Ill give it another go and make sure I do a thorough job. Failing that I'm not sure what to do other than trying a different brand.

Unless is damaged, or assembled incorrectly I really can't see how it wouldn't work. Try looking at the end of the nozzle and the tip of the needle with a loupe and see of you can see a bent tip, or damaged nozzle aperture. even a small bend on the end of the needle can spell disaster.

If you really think it's dead, I'd give you a few £ for it.

ETA - out of interest, what pressure are you using?

Edited by dr_gn on Monday 13th September 14:18

[dr_gn]

tangerine_sedge said:

dr_gn said:

I find an ultrasonic cleaner to be pretty ineffective on dried paint. Aerosol airbrush cleaner, tiny pipe cleaning brushes and kitchen roll usually does a better job in the same time.

When I’ve totally dismantled the brush and have used the aerosol, the ultrasonic cleaner might get rid of some tiny particles from various books and crannies, but the nozzle and needle are the key parts to keep spotless in my experience.

@op - I have an Iawata Neo, which is at the right price point for you and seems very well made (so far).

@dr_gn - I'm relatively new to airbrushing and have been cleaning by using airbrush cleaner/paintbrush and blowing cleaner through the airbrush. This seems to have been OK so far... What's your airbrush cleaning regime? i.e. between changing paints and at the end of the session?

Between colours, just thinners swizzled around in the cup with a medium paintbrush, emptied, then more blown through, Then a bit of aerosol cleaner blown through. That's unless it's going to be a clearcoat, in which case I'll strip the nozzle and clean it as below.

Between sessions - as above, then remove nozzle and needle. Aerosol cleaner sprayed through the nozzle (wear safety glasses in case it blows back), then a rolled up bit of tissue shoved in the nozzle and rotated. Then more cleaner sprayed through. Wet some tissue and put some cleaner on it, then lightly pull and roll the needle through your fingers while holding the tissue. Make sure the pot is clean, and the nozzle seating (clean with tissue/cleaner if necessary) then re-assemble and spray some thinners through to get rid of any random tissue fibres.

If your method of spraying cleaner through after each colour is working - fine, stick with it. It's just that for me, using acrylics can be tricky. I also use an retarder to delay drying.

[Anthony Micallef]

Some good advice here. I've ordered some Vallejo airbrush cleaner and a set of airbrush cleaning brushes to see if that does the trick.

[dr_gn]

Anthony Micallef said:

Some good advice here. I've ordered some Vallejo airbrush cleaner and a set of airbrush cleaning brushes to see if that does the trick.

I got a nozzle reamer type thing with mine. You put it in the nozzle and rotate it, and it scrapes any crud of the inside. Bit dodgy - I rarely use it because I think it might damage the aperture in the end.

[tangerine_sedge]

dr_gn said:

Between colours, just thinners swizzled around in the cup with a medium paintbrush, emptied, then more blown through, Then a bit of aerosol cleaner blown through. That's unless it's going to be a clearcoat, in which case I'll strip the nozzle and clean it as below.

Between sessions - as above, then remove nozzle and needle. Aerosol cleaner sprayed through the nozzle (wear safety glasses in case it blows back), then a rolled up bit of tissue shoved in the nozzle and rotated. Then more cleaner sprayed through. Wet some tissue and put some cleaner on it, then lightly pull and roll the needle through your fingers while holding the tissue. Make sure the pot is clean, and the nozzle seating (clean with tissue/cleaner if necessary) then re-assemble and spray some thinners through to get rid of any random tissue fibres.

If your method of spraying cleaner through after each colour is working - fine, stick with it. It's just that for me, using acrylics can be tricky. I also use an retarder to delay drying.

Thanks!

[dr_gn]

Anthony Micallef said:

Some good advice here. I've ordered some Vallejo airbrush cleaner and a set of airbrush cleaning brushes to see if that does the trick.

The Vallejo airbrush cleaner in a plastic bottle is a bit tame. I use Spraycraft aerosol cleaner - it basically removes pretty much any paint it touches. Just use it outside with appropriate PPE.

[Anthony Micallef]

dr_gn said:

Anthony Micallef said:

Some good advice here. I've ordered some Vallejo airbrush cleaner and a set of airbrush cleaning brushes to see if that does the trick.

The Vallejo airbrush cleaner in a plastic bottle is a bit tame. I use Spraycraft aerosol cleaner - it basically removes pretty much any paint it touches. Just use it outside with appropriate PPE.

Damn! Its ordered now so ill see how i get on with it.